Caraway Cookware Review: Is It Worth It? What the Lab Report Shows

16 min read

A fried egg in a tilted light gray ceramic frying pan held over a white plate in a home kitchen

Written by Lara Yehia. Lara researches home and kitchen products for Cupindy.

Published October 2026 · Last reviewed October 24, 2026 · Cupindy is not affiliated with Caraway or any brand on this page.

Caraway sells its pans on one promise: a slick ceramic surface with no PTFE or other PFAS in it. Before you pay for that promise, it helps to know exactly what the company says, what its published lab report covers, and what happened when people actually cooked with the pans.

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GreenPan Valencia Pro 8-inch frying pan with a gray ceramic nonstick surface

Our pick under $100

GreenPan Valencia Pro Ceramic Frying Pan

A ceramic pan that GreenPan says works on “All stovetops, including induction” and in the oven to 600°F. Caraway's own frying pans start at $115 on Amazon for the 8-inch; we cover them further down.

See the 8-inch on Amazon See the 10-inch with lid

The drawback: GreenPan rates it safe for metal tools but still recommends silicone, and the 8-inch is an egg-and-omelet pan, not a family-size one.

The Short Answer

Caraway says its ceramic coating is made without PTFE, PFOA and PFAS, and a lab report it publishes lists PTFE and PFOA as not detected. Those are the company's claims and testing the company publishes, not our finding. Testers like how food releases. Some owners say that release fades within a year.

Two other things come up as soon as you search for Caraway. In August 2025 the advertising industry's review body, the National Advertising Division, found Caraway's “non-toxic” and “free of PFAS” claims supported, while asking it to drop some claims about other brands' cookware. And the 2026 lawsuit against Caraway was filed by rival cookware makers over what Caraway has said in its advertising about PTFE pans. It is an advertising case; no court has ruled on the safety of any pan in it. Both are covered below.

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If you want	Pick	Buy
Ceramic under $100 that works on induction	GreenPan Valencia Pro	See it
The cheapest ceramic pan here	Blue Diamond Classic 10-inch	See it
The Caraway pan itself	Caraway 8-inch mini fry pan	See it

Caraway and the Pans It Gets Compared With

The middle column uses each maker's own words, or the Amazon listing's where the maker's site says nothing. Price tiers rather than prices, because prices change by the day.

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Pan	Coating and care, in the maker's words	Buy
Caraway 8-inch mini Smallest Caraway, higher price	“proprietary non-stick ceramic”, made without PTFE, PFOA and PFAS; oven to 550°F; hand wash only (listing)	See it
Caraway 10.5-inch Higher price, everyday size	Same coating and care rules as the 8-inch	See it
GreenPan Valencia Pro 8-inch Our pick under $100	“Diamond-infused ceramic nonstick coating”; induction; oven to 600°F	See it
GreenPan Valencia Pro 10-inch with lid Bigger, with a lid	Same Valencia Pro coating and limits	See it
Blue Diamond Classic 10-inch Lowest price here	“free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium”; oven to 600°F; not for induction	See it
OXO Enhanced 10-inch Mid price, heavier body	“a ceramic non-stick coating reinforced with diamonds”; dishwasher safe	See it
HexClad hybrid Highest price, steel and coating	“TerraBond ceramic nonstick”, per hexclad.com; read our separate review first	Read

What Caraway Says About Safety, and What It Doesn't Tell You

This is the question most people are really asking, so here is the record as it stands, with every claim tied to whoever made it. We do not run a lab, and nothing below is a safety verdict of our own.

What Caraway says

On its fry pan page, Caraway describes the coating this way: “Thoughtfully crafted without PTFE, PFOA, and PFAS, our proprietary non-stick ceramic offers effortless cooking, easy cleanup, and peace of mind at every meal.” The same page lists “Oven Safe Up to 550°F”, a “1-Year Limited Warranty” and a badge that reads “Third-Party Tested for Safety” (Caraway, read October 24, 2026).

The Amazon listing goes further. Caraway's brand FAQ there says its ceramic non-stick is free of “PTFE, PFOA, PFAS, lead, and cadmium”, “so no harmful chemicals ever leach into your food, even with scratches or high heat” (Caraway on Amazon). That second sentence is a strong claim. It is Caraway's, and we have not seen a test that measures leaching from a scratched pan.

A ceramic coating up close. Caraway's lab report covers the coating, the handles and the rivets.

What the lab report shows

Caraway's testing page says “independent third-party labs test materials that touch your food” (Caraway). It links to a report hosted by Light Labs. That report lists PTFE and PFOA as “Not detected” in a test dated January 26, 2026, total fluorine as not detected on January 22, 2026, and heavy metals below the lab's reporting limits on March 2, 2026, with lead and cadmium reported at less than 0.002 and 0.001 mg/kg. It covers the coating and the handles and rivets (Light Labs report, read October 23, 2026).

Total fluorine matters here. PFAS chemicals all contain fluorine, so a total fluorine test casts a wider net than a test for one named chemical. For the samples tested, that came back clean, though the report does not state the detection limit.

What the report doesn't tell you

The report page does not show the test method, how many pans were tested, or which colors and production batches they came from. It is reached through Caraway's own site. Its own small print reads: “Results reflect laboratory analysis of submitted samples at the time of testing as reported by the testing laboratory.” In plain terms, it tells you what was found in the samples sent in, on those dates. It cannot speak for every pan on the shelf.

California's chemical list

California's AB 1200 law asks cookware makers to list certain chemicals in their products. Caraway's disclosure page says “We have no reason to believe that any of our products present a health risk” and links a list (Caraway AB 1200 page). On the list we opened, the only entry under the ceramic coating is ethyl acetate, filed under its food storage line. The other entries cover its stainless steel, cast iron and utensil parts. Neither PTFE nor any PFAS appears (Caraway AB 1200 list). A name on this kind of list is a disclosure, not a finding that the product is harmful.

The ad review and the lawsuit

In a decision announced on August 14, 2025, after a challenge by the Cookware Sustainability Alliance, a coalition of cookware manufacturers, the National Advertising Division reviewed Caraway's advertising. The NAD is run by BBB National Programs; it is not a government agency. It found Caraway had a reasonable basis for its “free of PFAS” and “non-toxic” claims. It recommended that Caraway stop or change comparative claims suggesting that traditional nonstick cookware is harmful because of forever chemicals, and a social media claim that Teflon flu cases are rising. Caraway said it “respectfully disagrees with the NAD's finding” but “will comply with the NAD's decision” (NAD decision, August 14, 2025).

In February 2026, Groupe SEB USA and Meyer Corporation, U.S. sued Caraway Home in federal court in New York (case 1:26-cv-01237). The claims, which include false advertising and commercial disparagement, are aimed at what Caraway has said about PTFE-coated cookware, as the complaint and Fortune's coverage describe them. Caraway has asked the court to dismiss the case, and the motion was fully briefed by June. In an October 2 order on a discovery dispute, the judge wrote that the complaint cannot be read as challenging Caraway's ads “to the extent they claim competitors' cookware is toxic to the environment, as opposed to consumers who buy and use the cookware”. The copy of the docket we read on October 24, 2026, updated the day before, shows no ruling on the motion to dismiss, and discovery runs to February 2027 (case docket). Caraway founder Jordan Nathan called it “a meritless lawsuit” in a May 2026 interview with Fortune. As far as the public docket shows, nothing has been decided either way.

What we could not confirm

We found no Prop 65 warning on the Caraway pages we read, and we are not repeating claims we could not trace to Caraway's own site, such as where the pans are made or which coating process is used. If PFAS, PTFE and PFOA still blur together, our explainer on what PFOA-free really means untangles the labels, and the non-toxic cookware guide covers what health agencies say.

Is Caraway Worth the Price?

It depends on what you are paying for. If the point is a ceramic pan that looks good on an open shelf and cooks eggs cleanly, testers say Caraway delivers. If the point is a coating that outlasts cheaper ceramic, the evidence is mixed: one lab test was kind to it, and some long-term owners were not.

The Kitchn's Danielle Centoni cooked only with Caraway for two months and found that “Everything cooked evenly, browned beautifully, needed minimal cooking oil, and didn't stick at all.” Her complaints were specific: “what I didn't like was that there was no fond”, meaning the browned bits a pan sauce is built on, so the pans are “not great for pan sauces”. The lighter colors stain when oily, tomato-heavy food splashes the outside (The Kitchn, updated September 24, 2026). Two months is a short test for a coating, which is worth remembering when a review says it will last for years.

Golden seared chicken thighs in a light ceramic frying pan with almost no browned bits left on the pan surface

Ceramic lets go of food so easily that few browned bits stay behind, which is why testers find it weak for pan sauces.

Consumer Reports tested the Caraway frying pan and liked it. In its tests, “fried eggs easily slid out one after another”, and the coating, “which the manufacturer claims is made without PTFE, stood up very well in our durability test”. CR also found the handle “stays cool to the touch as you cook” (Consumer Reports). Note the wording on PTFE: CR is passing on the maker's claim, not reporting a chemical test of its own.

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Caraway 8-inch ceramic-coated mini fry pan in cream with a light interior

If you want Caraway itself

Caraway Non-Stick Ceramic Mini Fry Pan, 8-Inch

Caraway's smallest frying pan has the same coating as the rest of the line. The listing gives a 550°F oven limit, says it works on gas, electric and induction, and calls it “perfect for single serve eggs”. On October 24, 2026 it was sold on Amazon by Caraway Home and shipped by Amazon. The 10.5-inch is the everyday size, linked below.

Good for: Eggs and small meals, for someone set on the Caraway look

The drawback: It costs more than any other pan in our table except the HexClad, and the care rules are strict: the listing says “Hand Wash Only” and tells you to cook on “low to medium-low heat”. Caraway's ceramic pans carry a one-year limited warranty; GreenPan limits its Thermolon coating warranty to two years.

See the Caraway 8-inch on Amazon See the 10.5-inch

What Caraway Owners Complain About

Caraway's pans hold 4.3 stars from more than 6,600 ratings on Amazon. Many owners are happy, and plenty write that eggs slide out. The unhappy ones keep saying the same three things.

The first is release that fades. A critical review from April 2023 with more than 1,300 helpful votes is titled “Nonstick is nonexistent” and says that “After a single use, food began adhering to the pan's cooking surface.” A reviewer in Australia wrote in June 2026 that all the pans “started losing their non-stick ability after a few months”, and one in the UAE reported in August 2025 that the coating “starts peeling off in less than a year of use.” Other reviewers disagree. One wrote in October 2026 that the Caraway pans bought over the past couple of years “have all been durable”, and a four-star reviewer in July 2026 made a fair point about the whole category: “I have never owned a non stick that remained non stick beyond one year.”

The second is handle heat on gas. The April 2023 reviewer says the handle “quickly becomes 'too hot to handle'” on a gas range, though Consumer Reports found the opposite in its test. The third is staining on the outside of the light colors, which The Kitchn also noticed.

Hands washing a light ceramic frying pan with a soft sponge and soapy water at a kitchen sink

Hand washing with a soft sponge is the care Caraway's listing asks for. The dishwasher is out.

Care rules matter here. Caraway's listing says “No dishwasher needed” and warns that high heat “can burn food or damage the non-stick surface”. Our guide to cleaning non-stick pans covers how to strip the residue that makes a ceramic pan start to stick. If sticking is the problem you are trying to escape, the fix may be technique rather than a new pan; see why food sticks to pans.

Caraway vs GreenPan

Both sell ceramic-coated pans. Caraway says its coating is made without PFAS; GreenPan says its coating is made without intentionally added PFAS. Here is what each maker says about the same points, side by side. Each line comes from that maker's own pages or its Amazon listing.

	Caraway says	GreenPan says (Valencia Pro)
Coating	“proprietary non-stick ceramic”	“Diamond-infused ceramic nonstick coating”; its help center names it Thermolon
Free of	PTFE, PFOA and PFAS (site); also lead and cadmium (listing)	“No need for any chemicals like PTFE, PFOA or any other type of PFAS” and no added cadmium or lead
Oven	550°F	600°F
Induction	Yes, per the listing; check your cooktop	“All stovetops, including induction”
Metal tools	Not stated on the pages we read	“Metal utensil safe, but silicone tools recommended”
Dishwasher	“Hand Wash Only” (listing)	“Dishwasher safe, but hand washing recommended”
Warranty	“1-Year Limited Warranty”	Thermolon coating “limited to two (2) years”, normal wear and tear excluded

Sources: Caraway fry pan page and Amazon listing; GreenPan Valencia Pro page, GreenPan help center and GreenPan warranty, read October 23 and 24, 2026.

A gray ceramic nonstick frying pan with an egg cooking on a black glass induction cooktop

Both pans list induction compatibility. Check your cooktop's minimum pan size before you buy.

On paper the GreenPan takes more heat, allows metal tools and comes with a longer coating warranty, and it costs less. Caraway has the edge in Consumer Reports' testing, where its pan did well for release and durability. Caraway's case is design: the colors, the matching storage, the look of a full set. GreenPan also gave Consumer Reports a lifespan figure, saying its ceramic coatings “are expected to last two to five years, possibly more if they're well cared for” (Consumer Reports). We found no similar figure from Caraway.

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Our pick under $100

GreenPan Valencia Pro 8-Inch Ceramic Nonstick Frying Pan

GreenPan's Valencia Pro pairs a “Diamond-infused ceramic nonstick coating” with a hard-anodized body and a base that works on induction. GreenPan rates it to 600°F and says the PFAS-free coating “is made without intentionally added PFAS” (GreenPan). The 8-inch suits eggs; the 10-inch comes with a lid.

Good for: Induction cooktops, and anyone who wants Caraway's kind of coating for less

The drawback: Its Amazon rating is lower than Caraway's, around 4.1 stars, and GreenPan itself recommends silicone tools even though the pan is rated for metal.

See the 8-inch on Amazon See the 10-inch with lid

Caraway vs HexClad

These two are built differently. Caraway is a smooth ceramic coating over aluminum. HexClad is a steel pattern laid over a coating, and hexclad.com now describes that coating as “proprietary TerraBond ceramic nonstick which is PFAS-free”, with pans that are “metal utensil-safe, dishwasher-safe and oven-safe up to 900°F” (HexClad). Caraway's pans are hand wash only and stop at 550°F.

HexClad's older marketing was the subject of a class action, and the details matter if you are buying one secondhand or from an older listing. We cover that record, with the court documents, and how to check a listing in our HexClad review. Both pans sit at the top of the price range, so if budget is part of the decision, the GreenPan above or the pans below are where the value is.

Cheaper Ceramic Pans Worth a Look

If what you want from Caraway is a ceramic surface rather than the Caraway name, these two cost a fraction of the price. We compare a wider range, ceramic and traditional, in our non-stick pan picks, and our piece on the pros and cons of ceramic cookware explains what the coating can and cannot do.

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Blue Diamond 10-inch frying pan with a light blue speckled ceramic cooking surface

Lowest price

Blue Diamond Classic 10-Inch Ceramic Nonstick Frying Pan

Blue Diamond's FAQ says: “PTFE is a PFAS, and we do not use any PFAS including PTFE or PFOA in our coatings.” The Classic pan pages list it as “free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium”, oven and broiler safe to 600°F, and “Metal utensil safe” (Blue Diamond FAQ, product page).

Good for: A cheap everyday pan on gas or electric

The drawback: It does not work on induction: the product page says “All stovetops, except induction”. Blue Diamond also says softer tools will keep the coating “like new for longer”, despite the metal-safe rating.

See the Blue Diamond 10-inch on Amazon

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OXO Enhanced 10-inch frying pan with a black ceramic nonstick surface and a stainless steel handle

A heavier ceramic pan

OXO Enhanced 10-Inch Ceramic Nonstick Frying Pan

OXO describes “a ceramic non-stick coating reinforced with diamonds” on a hard-anodized aluminum body with a stainless steel handle, and says it is “Dishwasher safe” (OXO).

Good for: Cooks who want a sturdier pan than the budget ones

The drawback: OXO's page says nothing about PFAS, induction or metal tools; the PFAS-free wording comes from the Amazon listing. The listing also gives a lower oven limit than OXO's page does, so go by the lower number.

See the OXO 10-inch on Amazon

Questions People Ask

Is Caraway cookware dishwasher safe?

Caraway's Amazon listing says “Hand Wash Only” and “No dishwasher needed”, and its fry pan page shows the question without an answer. Treat it as hand wash only. Our non-stick cleaning guide covers the gentle routine ceramic needs.

Is Caraway oven safe, and does it work on induction?

Caraway rates its ceramic pans oven safe to 550°F. The listing says they work on gas, electric and induction, with base diameters from 5.5 to 8 inches, and suggests checking with your cooktop maker. Our oven-safe cookware guide explains what those ratings cover.

What is Caraway cookware made of?

The Amazon listing for the 10.5-inch pan gives aluminum as the material, with a ceramic coating Caraway calls its proprietary non-stick ceramic. Caraway does not publish the coating recipe on the pages we read.

Are Caraway pans toxic if scratched?

Caraway says no: its listing claims no harmful chemicals leach into food “even with scratches or high heat”. That is the company's claim. Its published lab report does not say whether scratched or heated pans were tested. If your coating is chipped or flaking, our non-stick care guide explains when to replace a pan.

How long does Caraway cookware last?

Caraway does not give a lifespan, and its ceramic pans carry a one-year limited warranty. The Kitchn's two-month test reported staining but no loss of release, and Consumer Reports says the coating “stood up very well” in its durability test. Some Amazon reviewers report fading release within months to a year, while others say their pans have held up for a couple of years. For comparison, GreenPan told Consumer Reports its ceramic coatings should last two to five years.

Is Caraway sold on Amazon?

Yes. On October 24, 2026, the Caraway frying pans we checked were sold on Amazon by Caraway Home, shipped either by Amazon or by Caraway itself.

What is the Caraway lawsuit about?

Rival cookware makers Groupe SEB USA and Meyer Corporation, U.S. sued Caraway in February 2026 over its advertising about PTFE cookware. As the complaint, Fortune and the court's own orders describe it, it is an advertising case about what Caraway has said about PTFE pans. The docket we read on October 24, 2026 shows no ruling on Caraway's motion to dismiss. The details are in the safety section above.

Is Caraway better than GreenPan?

Neither maker's claims make one clearly better. GreenPan's Valencia Pro lists a higher oven limit, allows metal tools and has a longer coating warranty for less money. Caraway did well in Consumer Reports' release and durability tests, and wins on looks and matching storage. The side-by-side table above shows each maker's own words.

How We Reviewed Caraway

We did not test these pans ourselves. On October 23 and 24, 2026, we read Caraway's product, testing and AB 1200 pages, the lab report and the chemical list they link to, the NAD press release and the federal case docket, and the Amazon listings for each pan, with stock checked for a New York address. Testers are quoted by name: The Kitchn and Consumer Reports. Owner reviews are quoted with their dates and treated as individual experiences, not test results. Cupindy is not affiliated with Caraway, GreenPan, HexClad, Blue Diamond or OXO, and none of them saw this page before it went up.

Sources (opened October 23-24, 2026)

Caraway, GreenPan, HexClad, Blue Diamond and OXO are trademarks of their owners and are named here only to identify their products. Listings change; check the listing and the maker's care guide before you buy.

We read the filings so you don't have to

We'll email you when something changes: a cookware recall, a brand quietly rewriting its safety page, a filing that contradicts what's on the label. Not on a schedule — only when there's something worth your attention.